Snippets from a bead artist.

2.02.2012

Happy Happy Happy Nancy!!!





Yes, I am dancing around and thrilled down to my shoe soles! I had the incredibly wonderful news yesterday that one of my necklaces has been juried into Lark's newest 500 series book, 500 Jewelry!! If you haven't checked this out already (how could you not, with beaders linking to it every which way on Facebook and blog alike??), make sure to go to Amazon or your nearest book store and earmark this book for your future purchase and enjoyment. I am humbled and honored and amazed to be included in this compendium of wonderfully talented ladies and gentlemen of the beading world. Congratulations to everyone who juried in!!!!!

When I received my notification, my jaw hit the floor and then I had a huge burst of adrenaline, and spun around the kitchen laughing so loud my dogs came running to find out what was up. Later on, once my joy had settled into a nice warm spot in my chest suspiciously close to where a heart should be, I found myself thinking back on all of the people, beaders and not, who have encouraged me to keep beading, especially when I felt like it wasn't worth it, or that my pieces were never going to be 'good enough.'

My gratitude for this help and support then brought to mind how rampant thievery is affecting our beading communities. At nearly the same second I got my notification of acceptance, it was posted online that one of Sue Horine's amazing pieces of art had been stolen right out of her shop. All month long, there have been people finding more and more of their patterns, tutorials or designs being flagrantly copied or sold without their permission, design credits not given... on and on.

Let me explain how the one leads to the other in my (decidedly odd) head: Without the support and generosity of my friends, and my fellow beaders, especially those who were quite well known, I could not have learned enough about beading to make a go of anything I made. Several of these beaders were kind enough to teach me things free of cost, so that I could advance myself through stitches or projects that would show me tension or needle control, or how to get those beads to line up the right way. Some of the teaching included tutorials and/or patterns that they normally had for sale, and would have sold me; they certainly didn't have to give them to me. These same people could most certainly at least hesitate in our current environment of thievery, to share the same things they shared without a qualm years ago, and I wouldn't blame them in the least. Giving something freely, or having it forcibly wrested from you... I worry that with all of the stealing and underhanded dealing going on, that we may, as a community, start to withhold the knowledge we have in our attempts to stem the tide. I have attempted to pay it forward always; to teach anything I know (within reason) freely, to share techniques and stitches and tips and tricks... and I will keep on doing so, and most of the beaders I know will, as well. But there is only so much that the designers as a whole will take, and it frustrates me to know that the thieves will eventually make it very hard for the beginning bead artist to get where they need to go.

If you see Sue's beautiful necklace out there anywhere, whether being worn or offered for sale, please identify the person and report the theft. Here it is:



And I leave you with a photograph (taken by my wonderful husband, of course) of Regency, the necklace soon to be published:



Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

36 comments:

  1. congratulations!!! the necklace is STUNNING!!!!

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  2. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! One foot hoppin happy dance!

    I am one of those who you have paid it forward to and for that I am grateful beyond words. I also feel the same as you and hurt for my favorite designers as well as anyone who wants to break into designing. The current stealing and copying is just plain wrong! Thank you for trusting me with your inspiration and support.

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  3. Thank you, K, and of COURSE I trust you, silly lady!!

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  4. Congratulations Nancy - very well deserved - I have always admired your work.

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  5. Congratulations Nancy. So happy for you!

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  6. Congratulations Nancy. I love your aesthetic, and I can't wait to smell the pages of a brand new, beautifully printed book the next time I see your glorious necklace. Yippee!!!

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  7. Nancy, I am SOOOOOO Happy for you! You are an amazing lady with such talent and kindness to boot. Be proud. Very very proud!!! :-D *BIGhigs*

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    1. Thank you, Jin, you're an inspiration yourself, always.

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  8. This is so great for not just for you but for all of us who love you and are in awe of your talent. I want to buy the book now just because you're in it! I completely agree with you about the problems w/ thieves and copyright violations. It's so sad to see such unethical, immoral doings. It makes me appreciate you all the more because you DO pay it forward and I'm so impressed by that. You are one awesome beader but also one really good person.

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  9. Thank you so much! I can't tell you all how excited I am!!!

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  10. Congrats Girl! You rock, and I can't wait to get the book and admire your necklaces close up.

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  11. YAY NANCY!!!!! I am so happy for you, you deserve it, oh yes you do!

    And - just as wonderful people like you eventually get what you deserve, so will those who steal. Although I know that there are some beaders who have decided not to share any more, most still do. We're not going to let the bad ones determine what we do, right?

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  12. Many many congrats on the book, Nancy. Both the necklace and the photo are beautiful.

    As for the stealing, I guess we just have to keep on keepin on.If you think about it too much, it can really get you down and even paranoid. But it seems for every bad experience, something good happens to balance it out. Lets just concentrate on the good!!

    Congrats again on the good!

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    1. Thank you, Betty - and I agree, let's stick with the positive!! Congratulations on your acceptances, too - and your COVER!!! :) :)

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  13. Nancy, congratulations :) I´m so happy for you!
    And the new necklace is fantastic!

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  14. YAY!!!! Congrats and well deserved beautiful talented lady!!! Mine is on order and can't wait to see it!!

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    1. Thank you, Julie! I can't wait to see it, either - there are so many of my beading heroes in there!!!

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  15. The necklace is stunning! Congrats!

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  16. Congratulations well and richly deserved, Nancy! Your work is exquisite! Can't wait to see the book!!

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  17. You are such a honey Nancy and I have benefited as a beginning beaderer from things you've kindly shared. I couldn't be more pleased that your amazing work has been included in the new Lark Book. I would buy it anyway, but now instead of looking at the pictures and thinking 'I'll never be able...' I will think 'Maybe one day, with help from my beady friends...'

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    1. Thank you so very much, that means the world and more to me. I SO hope that your feelings are widespread, and that most people DO feel that way!!!!

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  18. Congrats Nancy...you deserve being in this book...you have shared with me & I share with others to make our Art flourish on and on.

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  19. Congratulations!! Your neck piece is really beautiful and certainly deserves to be among the 500. Beautiful, beautiful!! Happy Beading

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  20. Woohoooo! Congratulations Nancy. I'm not surprised your lovely necklace is going to be in the book. Its gorgeous. I shall pop over to amazon in a min and add it to my wish list!

    Re: the stealing
    There are some horrible people there but I think they are in the minority and we have to try not to let it get to us too much or we'd all cry and never do anything. You and others are sooo kind to share your knowledge and we REALLY appreciate it. Thank you :o)

    Gemxxx

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  21. Nancy,
    Regency is amazing! So happy for you having it featured in Showcase 500 - congratulations; your work is so inspiring.

    June x

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  22. Congratulations Nancy, although well deserved and no surprise!

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  23. That's amazing news, and truly well-deserved!

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  24. Congratulations Nancy, I am so happy for you, I can't wait to get the book and see all the fabulous work. It is such a shame that that beautiful necklace has been stolen, it is truly a work of art.

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